Container for records,documents and the like



CONTAINER FOR RECORDS, DOCUMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed June '7, 1968 June 23, 1970 R. DE FRElTAS MARTINS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR RUBEN de FREITAS MARTINS ATTORNEYS CONTAINER FOR RECORDS, DOCUMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed June '7, 1968 June 23,1970 R. DE FREITAS MARTINS 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR RUBEN de FREITAS MARTINS ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,516,598 CONTAINER FOR RECORDS, DOCUMENTS AND THE LIKE Ruben de Freitas Martins, Alameda Franca 459, Sao Paulo, Brazil Filed June 7, 1968, Ser. No. 735,460 Claims priority, application Brazil, July 13, 1967,

191,3 Int. Cl. B65d 27/08, 85/30 U.S. Cl. 229-72 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a container for the storage of records, papers and other articles such as books, albums, pamphlets, catalogs and magazines, although the principal purpose is to provide an envelope for storing phonograph records.

Covers or envelopes appropriate for storing phonograph records in stores and in the home are well known. The record is usually enclosed in an open end paper envelope and both the record and the paper envelope may be enclosed within a cardboard cover bearing the name of the record, pictures and information relating to the recording artist, etc.

The object of the present invention is to provide a two section, bag-type envelope for storing records in an effective and efficient manner both prior to and after sale thereof which can be manufactured and sold at a sufiiciently low cost to make it attractive and practical from a commercial standpoint.

The envelope may vary in shape, size and color; however it is preferably made of a material such as transparent sheet plastic, in order to permit ready visual in spection of illustrations on protective cardboard sheets which may be contained in the envelope or the descriptive labels on the records stored therein without the necessity of handling the record itself, which may subject it to damage.

The invention comprises basically a clear plastic bag or envelope having a front wall and a rear wall and closed top and bottom edges. Medially of the front wall there is provided an opening extending laterally thereof. The lateral opening thus divides the envelope into lower and upper sections. The side edges of the lower section are closed whereas at least one of the side edges of the upper section are open, although the invention would still have utility if both side edges of the top section were closed because the medial opening provides access to both upper and lower sections. The opening or openings in the side edges of the upper section preferably terminate short of the medial opening and the top edge of the upper section. When the envelope is to be used for storing a phonograph record, for example, one or two pieces of cardboard bearing titles, illustrations and/or descriptive matter can be inserted into a side opening in the upper section, slide downwardly into the lower section and then placed side by side therein. A phonograph record may then be placed in between the two pieces of cardboard by inserting it either through an opening in a side edge of the upper section or through the medial opening in the front wall. In order to secure the record in the envelope, as may be desirable when it is on display in a store, the upper sec- 3,516,598 Patented June 23, 1970 tion may be folded over the lower section and, if desired, may be temporarily attached thereto by pressure sensitive adhesive tape, for example. Alternatively, the record can be stored in a pocket formed by engaging an edge of the record on the closed top wall of the upper section and moving the record downwardly between the two pieces of cardboard which provides a convenient storage pocket and facilitates removal of the record when it is to be played. This method of storage is ordinarily preferable in the home where the record would be frequently removed from the envelope to be played.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of the envelope showing the medial opening in the front wall in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation showing one piece of protective cardboard in place in the lower section of the envelope and a second piece of cardboard being inserted through an opening in the side of the upper section.

FIG. 2A is a cross section of the envelope taken on the line 2A-2A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation with a record being inserted into the upper section of the envelope against the closed upper edge thereof to ultimately form a sub-pocket for the record.

FIG. 3A is a section taken on the line 3A--3A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation showing the record fully inserted into the sub-pocket.

FIG. 4A is a cross section taken on the line 4A-4A of FIG. 4.

Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 2A, the envelope of the present invention is characterized by the fact that it is made of a transparent plastic bag-type cover comprising front and rear walls W, W, respectively, a lower section 1, and an upper section '2 adapted to be folded one upon the other, or enclosed one within the other as previously referred to. The lower section 1 is closed at its bottom edge 3 and also closed at its side edges 4 and 5. A slot or opening 9 is formed in the front wall W substantially medially thereof to define the lower and upper sections and provide free access to each of them. The upper section 2 may be open at the side edges 6 and 7 and is closed at the top edge 8.

Through either of the side openings 6 and 7 in the upper section 2 protective cardboards 10, 11 bearing identification of record 12 and/or illustrations may be inserted. The cardboards are placed in the lower section 1 and the phonograph record is then placed between the cardboards either by inserting it through an opening 6 or 7, or through opening 9 in the front wall of the envelope. If desired, only one piece of cardboard may be used and in such case, one side of the record would be visible through the transparent adjacent wall of the lower secion 1. The upper section 2 may then be folded over the lower section 1 and secured thereto by any appropriate means such as pressure sensitive adhesive tape (not shown).

FIGS. 3 and 3A illustrate another means of storing a record whereby the upper section 2 is inserted into the lower section 1. This is accomplished by placing the edge of the record 12 on the top edge 8 of the upper section 2 and then moving the record downwardly between the spaced apart cardboards 10, 11 which forces the upper section 2 downwardly also into the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 4A. The record 12 is thus enclosed within the envelope, having its sides protected against scratching by the front and rear walls of the upper section 2 and further having protection against breakage by the reinforcing cardboards 10, 11.

It will thus be apparent that the last mentioned means of storing a record provides three separate pockets, the intermediate or record receiving pocket being open at the top to facilitate access to the record. The slot 9 in front wall W is exposed as shown in FIG. 4A and, if desired, the cardboard 11 could be removed and a second record could be inserted through slot 9 into its related pocket for storage. The cardboard 10 remaining in the other outer pocket would still provide rigidity for the envelope and the second record would be stored between opposed plastic surfaces which would protect it in the same fashion as the first record lodged in the intermediate pocket is protected. Conceiva'bly, a slot could he formed in the rear wall W in line with the slot 9 in the front wall W and thus provide access to the other outer pocket.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means of construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of se eral modes of putting the invention into elfect and the in vention will therefore be understood in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexible, transparent envelope for storage of objects such as phonograph records, documents and the like comprising, a front wall, a rear wall, top, bottom and side edges connecting said front and rear walls, said front wall having a laterally extending opening substantially medially thereof and providing upper and lower sections with free access therebetween, at least one of the side edges of said upper section having an opening therein, said opening terminating short of said laterally extending opening and the top edge of said upper section, whereby an object or objects to be stored may be inserted through the opening in the side edge of the upper section or through the opening in the front wall for storage in said lower section.

2. An envelope according to claim 1, wherein the top edge of said envelope provides a base for supporting a portion of the edge of an object when said object is engaged thereon and moved downwardly to cause said upper section to move downwardly and be lodged within said lower section.

3. An envelope of flexible, transparent material for storing a plurality of fiat objects comprising in combination, first and second spaced apart pockets, a third pocket intermediate said first and second spaced apart pockets, said three pockets disposed side by side relative to each other, said third pocket being open along its top edge to provide free access to the object stored therein.

4. An envelope of flexible material for storing a plurality of flat objects comprising in combination, first and second spaced apart pockets, a third pocket intermediate said first and second spaced apart pockets, said three pockets disposed side by side relative to each other said third pocket being open along its top edge to provide free access to the object stored therein, and at least one of said spaced apart pockets having an opening along its top edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,962,157 11/1960 Meister.

3,358,906 12/1967 Faiers 22966 3,305,159 2/1967 Becker et a1. 22972 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,062,452 7/ 1959 Germany.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 206-62; 22968 

